Stanley Newmyer Shumway
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STANLEY NEWMYER SHUMWAY was born in Omaha, Nebraska on February 19, 1932, and was raised and educated in the small town of Lyons, Burt County, Nebraska. His parents were Lorin L. and Helen Newmyer Shumway. He worked on the family farm and enjoyed the security of growing up in a happy and secure environment, surrounded by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. He graduated from Lyons High School in 1950. That summer he traveled to Paris, France with a youth group.
In the fall of that year, Stan enrolled at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He majored in music and in five years earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. He was active in many musical activities. As a trombonist, he participated in the Concert and Marching Bands, University Orchestra, Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, National Guard Band and several small ensembles. For three years he was trombone soloist with the NU Concert Band on annual tours around the state. He was an assistant in music theory as an undergraduate, and later he was a Graduate Teaching Assistant in brass instruments. He was president of the band and also of the music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha. With the latter he organized and directed a male glee club that performed around the city and the university.
He married Janice Ann Fullerton in 1954. Jan, an accomplished pianist, developed a fine career as a performer and teacher. They were to have five beloved children. The oldest, Steven, died in 2000. All five earned degrees from KU and four of those degrees are in music. Those four went on to earn advanced degrees and pursue successful careers in music.
In July 1955, after completing a Master’s degree in music at Nebraska, Stan was drafted into the U. S. Army. He took basic training at Ft. Leonard, MO followed by Army Band School at Ft. Knox, KY. While at Ft. Knox he auditioned for and was accepted into the Seventh Army Symphony. However, his orders were changed at the last minute and he was assigned to the Seventh Infantry Division Band stationed at Camp Casey in northern South Korea, the only military base where he could not take his family. The assigned tour to Korea was for 16 months. During that time he organized a glee club and organized and taught a class in music theory. He became first sergeant of the band company.
Upon his return from Korea he joined his wife, Jan, on the music faculty of Midland College in Fremont, NE. In 1959, after two years at Midland, he was accepted into the doctoral program in music theory at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, where he became a Graduate Teaching Assistant. He completed the PhD program two years later and joined the music faculty at KU in 1961.
He remained at KU for the next 35 years, teaching undergraduate and graduate classes in music theory. In 1970 he published Harmony and Ear Training at the Keyboard, which was widely used at colleges and universities around the country and abroad, and was published in Spanish and Chinese. He also did administrative work including several stints as Associate Dean of the School of Fine Arts. There had never been a unified music unit at KU; rather the music faculty was organized into several small departments. Those small units were unified in 1981, and Stan became the chair of the first true music department in KU history, a post he held for five years. He also served as chair of the Annual Symposium of Contemporary American Music. Each year the Symposium hosted a notable composer, including Gunther Schuller and Aaron Copland.
Stan secured a grant to establish the first electronic music studio at KU. He composed music for various media, often for his own family. He provided electronic music and effects for several University Theatre productions including Equus and Rashomon.
Stan was a member of the Rotary Club and Plymouth Congregational Church. He served on the board of the Lawrence Arts Center and worked to raise funds for the new facility. He retired from KU in 1996 and returned several times to teach and do administrative work. He enjoyed his family, golf, and gardening, especially roses. He was preceded in death by an older sister, Lois Jean, (1928-1935) and a son, Steven, (1955-2000).
Survivors include wife: Jan Shumway; sister: Mary Rounsborg; daughter-in-law: Christine House Shumway, children: Susan Shumway, Sally Shumway Satalof, Mary Berry (Richard), David Shumway (Cynthia); grandchildren: Morgan Shumway, Dylan Shumway, Tyler Joseph (Michele), Madelyn Joseph, Sydney Satalof, Sarah Cranston (David), Daniel Berry, Amy Foley (Ryan), David Berry, Samuel Shumway, Peter Shumway (Emily Call-Shumway); great-grandchildren: Ian Cranston, Wyatt Cranston.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Plymouth Congregational Church or the Lawrence Arts Center and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
Dear Jan and family
I treasured my friendship with Stan and you both through so many years, from neighbor, music, and community involvement. I will certainly miss Stan’s cheerful demeanor at every turn.
May you and your family celebrate his life and memories you all created.
Peace always.
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. So many good memories thru the years with the music you all were a part of. Hold onto these as comfort, joy and peace at this time.
It was such a pleasure to have known Stan. We always remember your playing my Mom’s piano for us. Mike was honored to work on your beautiful historic home. We send you our thoughts an pleasant memories.
Our deepest condolences on the death of Stan. He was a wonderful man who imparted quiet dignity and civility to everything that he did. Music at KU was blessed with his presence for many years, including the numerous services that he performed for us following retirement. We will miss his smiling face and warm greetings at concerts, but his great work as a teacher and administrator at KU and in so many ways around Lawrence will be remembered for many years. May you find comfort in your memories.
I am heartbroken. Dr. Shumway was my undergraduate harmony teacher, my theory-comp advisor and most importantly, my lifelong friend. He pulled me through some very hard times after the death of my father. He supported me when I was a fledgeling faculty member as I “learned the ropes”, and he was always so supportive of my work. Along with all his many accomplishments as a scholar, teacher and administrator, he managed to raise a wonderful family. All of us in the KU community were blessed to have Stan Shumway as our colleague. It is an honor to say that Stan Shumway was my friend. God bless him, Jan and all all his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Dear Jan and Family,
I am saddened to hear of Stan’s passing. He was truly a fine and considerate man. We shared many conversations during my years at KU. I always felt we had an immediate connection due to our similar backgrounds and the University of Nebraska. He was a real friend and leaves a wonderful legacy through his family and through his profession. God’s blessings to the family. Stan is resting in God’s peace.
Dear Jan and Family,
How lucky Dave and I were to have you as our first neighbors when we moved back to Lawrence. What a joy to share flowers and tomatoes, conversation over the back fence and wine on the patio, and over the years, to meet each others’ families. You and Stan have shared such a rich life together and touched so many lives. I hope your many memories and stories from family and friends give you comfort. Stan has meant so much to so many.
Dear Jan and family,
I was so snotty to hear of your loss. My prayers are with you. Stan was an amazing person. May memories of special times comfort you.
Blessings,
Diane
Jan, I am so saddened to learn of the loss of your Stan. I shall remember him with great affection… our trips to music events, delightful conversations over coffee, and his kind support of my endeavors. So many have been blessed by his warmhearted and caring presence — family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, students. His kind influence and his music shall long be remembered by those fortunate enough to have known him. I shall miss him. Pax vobiscum.
Sending deepest condolences and prayers for comfort to the Shumway family and friends
Dear Jan,
I am so very sorry! I will forever every spring look at my Peonies and think of Stan and his love for his garden. I pray for all of your family to find comfort in the memories you all have to share.
Dear Jan & Family of Stan Shumway,
So many people have lost a great friend in Stan. He was a true gentleman who lived a meaningful and productive life, rich in talents that he shared with our community and those around him. I have quietly admired him for many years and will always be grateful for having known him. My condolences and deepest sympathy. -John Esau
Dear Jan, I can’t think of Dr. Shumway without smiling. The day he came to work with a ‘pierced’ ear and his popular gorilla mask. He was a kind and caring man. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy on your loss.
Amy Hardman
Sending my condolences to Jan and the family. I enjoyed so much working with Stan when we were both associated with the Lawrence Arts Center. I will miss him.
Dear Jan and family: Becky and I were so sad to learn about Stan last Wednesday. What a loss! We are so sorry, and we send our deepest sympathy to all the Shumways. Stan left a great legacy, and he will be greatly missed.
Bob Foster
Jan and Family,
My sincere and deepest condolences to everyone. I am a colleague of David’s in Maryland. David has spoken so fondly and with great respect for the man and musician that Stan was. I can imagine the amazing impact he had on everyone he came in contact with. Thoughts and prayers be with you as you remember Stan and his legacy.
One of the Great citizens and educators of Lawrence & KU.
Stan was an inspiration to everyone who know him. Rest in peace.
I’m so sorry to hear about Dr. Shumway’s death. He was a wonderful mentor for me during my years at KU, and I was touched by the way he continued to inquire about me after I moved to Baltimore. He helped lay a wonderful foundation for my life’s work. My condolences to Mrs. Shumway, David, and all members of the family.
I am deeply saddened. Stan raised the musical acumen of Lawrence and sprinkled the area with his children and students to help strata of Lawrence youth learn and prosper by their extended musical influence. When the Shumways gathered, people listened. I’m profoundly grateful for Stan’s kindness and the lessons I learned personally from our discussions. Condolences to family and friends.
On behalf of the Adams family we offer our sincere condolences to the Shumway family in the loss of Stan. The memories of his appreciation of music was spread throughout his family, students and friends and will last for generations.
Dear Jan and all of the Shumway family, I will never forget the loving kindness you extended to my mother Vance Roberts all the years you were neighbors. She honored and respected Stan, and you, dear Jan. Thank you for the many ways that you made a difference in her life, especially those last few months when she was able to stay at home during her last illness. She looked forward to your daily drop-ins with a pretty flower each time! Stan lived a remarkable life, and all of you who mourn him will remember his gifts and his generous spirit.